The Ticket

Sen. Corker: Clinton likely to give Benghazi testimony Jan. 22

The public will likely hear Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton testify Jan. 22 on the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Tuesday.

“I had some very good conversations with her chief of staff,” Corker, ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell. Corker noted that committee Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J., will set the schedule, but added, “My sense is, Andrea, that her hearing probably will take place the morning of the 22nd."

He added, "I think they feel she's going to be healthy enough to come in that day."

Corker's statement marks the first time a date has been given for Clinton's much-anticipated testimony following her illness and absence from office.

Clinton returned to work Monday following a brief hospital stay after falling ill, suffering a concussion and undergoing treatment for a blood clot in her head.

Clinton's spokeswoman confirmed Monday that the secretary of state would testify once Congress returned to Washington following the president's inauguration Jan. 20 and 21.

The administration has been criticized by Republicans and others for how the attack was reported to the public, and over whether consulate security prior to the attack was adequate.

Clinton backed out of testifying in December, citing health concerns, and some conservatives accused her of faking an illness.